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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69262
Title: EFFECT OF SUBSTERILIZING DOSES OF RADIATION ON SPERM PRECEDENCE IN SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

Author
item Carpenter, James
item HIDRAYANI - ANDALAS UNIV. INDONESIA
item NOVRI NELLY - ANDALAS UNIV. INDONESIA
item MULLINIX, B. - UNIV. OF GA, CPES

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/13/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The fall armyworm is an economically important pest of many crops in North and South America. As a possible approach for management of this pest, radiation was used to genetically alter the fall armyworm and thereby cause deleterious effects which reduce the rate of reproduction for several generations. The genetically altered fall armyworm males can be identified by examining their chromosomes. This identification technique was used to measure the effectiveness of the sperm produced by the genetically altered males. Our research results suggest that fall armyworm males receiving a low dose of radiation can produce sperm that is competitive with sperm of wild fall armyworm. Therefore, this technique could likely be used successfully against wild fall armyworms to alter their normal rates of reproduction, and thereby reduce the seasonal buildup of fall armyworm populations.

Technical Abstract: The effect of radiation on sperm priority and mixing patterns in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), was studied by sequentially mating females with irradiated (100 and 150 Gy) and normal males. Progeny of irradiated males were identified by visible chromosomal aberrations in the testes. Twice-mated females produced more progeny fathered by irradiated males when irradiated males received a 100 Gy dose than when males received a 150 Gy dose, and exhibited incomplete last-male sperm precedence with extensive sperm mixing. Mating sequence had no significant effect on the number of oviposition days in which sperm mixing occurred. Also, the day of oviposition (days subsequent to the last mating) had no significant effect on sperm priority and mixing patterns. However, when females exhibited sperm mixing, the mean percentage of progeny fathered by irradiated males was significantly higher when males were irradiated with 100 Gy than when males were irradiated with 150 Gy. Sperm complements from males irradiated with 100 Gy were competitive with sperm complements from normal males, but there was a reduction in sperm competitiveness from males irradiated with 150 Gy.